Program device for player musical instruments



March 17, 1936.l W, J, BUTLER 29349224 y PROGRAM DEVICE FOR PLAYERMUSICALINSTRUMENTS Filed June 15, 1934 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITEDTATES PATENT OFFICE PROGRAM DEVICE FOR PLAYER- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 7Claims.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a programdevice for musical instruments whereby a plurality of power playermusical instruments of different type may be l started successively,each at a denite timed interval after the starting of another andstopped, each at the conclusion of the rendition of a record; whereby anelectrically operated power player musical instrument may be startedsuccessively at timed intervals; and whereby said instruments, or any ofthem, may be controlled electrically from a distant point.

Various other objects of my invention will be apparent from the detaileddescription of the particular embodiment thereof selected for more fullydisclosing the principles underlying the same.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specicatiom-Figure 1 is a diagram of apparatus and certain arrangements embodying myinvention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detail of construction.

In the particular drawing selected for more ully disclosing theprinciple of my invention, I0 is a horometric device such as an electricclock of any suitable type having a rotor II and a held structure I2provided with a coil I3. In Figure l the horometer is shown in sideelevation. Connected in any suitable manner for actuation by thehorometer is a switching device herein shown as a mercury switch I4disposed in the tilting cradle I5, pivotally connected at I6 to asuitable framework, said cradle having two upstanding arms I'I, I8 atits respective ends. While various means may be employed for tilting theswitch I4 at the proper times, I have shown for the purpose of moreclearly disclosing the invention a spring-retracted lever I9 pivoted at2t and arranged to coact with the arm il' of the cradle for tilting themercury switch to circuit-closing position (Fig. l) when the head 2l ofsaid lever is moved by any suitable appliance actuated by the horometer.The cradle having no retractile means, the switch I4 will remain incircuit-closing position until tilted to circuit-opening position bymeans hereinafter described, and vice versa. As shown in the drawing,the hororneter is connected through a gear train 22 and worin gears 23,24 with the vertical sleeve 25 to which are secured radially-extendingblades arranged in sets herein shown as four in number. The rst setconsists of a single blade 26 which is of greater vertical height thanany of the blades of the other sets and performs the function ofactuating the lever I9 once every hour. The second set consists in thepresent instance of two blades it, 2, the blade 21 being of lessvertical height than the blade 26. The set consisting of the blades 29and 2l actuates the lever I9 every half hour. The third set in thepresent instance consists of four blades 26, 2l, 28, 29. The blades areoi less vertical height than the blades 23, 2l 4and the set consistingof the blades 26, 28, 2l, 29 actuates said lever I9 every quarter hour.The fourth set of blades comprises the blades already mentioned and fourother blades 39, 3i, 32 and 33, each being of less vertical height thanthe blades 28, 29 and with the four blades already mentioned performingthe function of actuating the lever I9 on every eighth hour. The sleeve25 is arranged to rotate about the internally-threaded sleeve 34,restrained from rotational movement and arranged to be moved verticallyby the screw 35 which terminates in the knob 36, said knob 355 beingdisposed on the top of the casing 31 which encloses the horometriccontrol.

The upper and lower ends of the sleeve 25 are provided with nanges whichextend over the inner threaded sleeve 34, so that by turning the knob 33the latter is raised and lowered, thereby raising and lowering the foursets of blades above described and placing any desired set in suitableposition for co-action with the head 2l of the lever I9.

As explained in detail in my prior Patent 1,783,375, December 2, 1930,it is desirable to actuate player musical instruments at definite timedintervals so that there will be an appreciable interval after theconclusion of the rendition of a record before the beginning of another;I have ascertained that it is desirable artistically to play suchinstruments of different type alternately or successively, each at adefinite timed interval after the starting of another, with anappreciable time interval after the conclusion of the rendition of arecord by another (which is herein called alterna-te operation) or elseto start one instrument at successive denite time intervals and anotherimmediately after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by saidinstrument (which is herein called paired operation).

Before describing in detail alternate and paired operation I shallexplain the circuit arrangements whereby a power player instrument suchas a pneumatically operated piano is started at successive definite timeintervals, with an appreciable interval between the conclusion of therendition of one record and the playing of another.

In the circuit arrangements shown in the drawing which is to beconsidered as illustrative merely and not restrictive, the main oron-off switch 40 and the piano and interval switches 4i, 42 are closed,thereby closing and opening certain circuits and initiating a train ofoperations as follows: The closing of the double pole switch 4| closesthe following circuit: From the contact point 43 to the solenoid 44 andthence to one side of the plug 45 connected to a Vsuitable source suchas a house lighting system, then through the switch 40, to the point 46and thence by the conductor 4'! back to the switch 4i. The closure ofsaid circuit causes the momentary energization of the solenoid 44 sodesigned that the plunger is advanced beyond its central position andimmediately falls back to such position. The switch 48 is thusmomentarily closed by said solenoid core and immediately thereafteropened whereby an impulse of current is sent over the following circuit:From the point 49 to the switch 40, plug 45 and thence by conductor 50through the lefthand coil of the relay or starting controller 5l the twocoils of which are identical and then back by conductor 52 to saidswitch 48. The energization of said coil of said relay 5| swings thearmature 53 to the left and closes the fourblade switch at the points54, 55, whereupon the following two circuits are closed: (l) From oneside of the switch 54 by the conductor 56 to the motor 5l and then bythe conductor 50 to one side of the supply line and thence via theswitch 40 and conductor 58 to the other side of said switch 54; (2) fromthe switch 55 by the conductor 55 to the righthand coil of the relay 5l,thence by the lead 50 to the supply line 50, the switch 40, point 46,conductor 4l, switch 4|, contact point 6|, switch points 62, closed inthe manner hereinafter set forth, points 63, 64 and thence by lead 55 tothe switch points 55. The two coils of the relay 5l Y being identical itwill be clear that upon the simultaneous energization thereof thearmature 53 will remain in whatever position it occupied at the time ofsuch energization.

'Ihe closure of circuit (1) above traced results in the energization ofthe motor 51 connected by gear train 55 to the rotating cam 61 wherebythe switch 52 is closed irrespective of the initial angular position ofsaid cam. The closure of circuit (2) traced above and the resultantenergization of the righthand coil of relay 5| open the circuit of saidmotor at the switch points 54, thereby causing the cam 67 to remain inposition to maintain the switch 62 closed, and simultaneously opens thecircuit 0I" said righthand winding of the relay 5I at the switch points55. The closure of the switch 68 effected as aforesaid by the cam 61closes the circuit of the pianoactuating motor as follows: From theswitch points 68 by the line 69 to the piano motor 10 and thence by theconductor 'H and point 'I2 to the plug 45, switch 40, mercury switch I4and finally via lead 'i3 back to the switch 68.

It will be understood of course that the horometer controls not only theintervals between the starting of the piano motor but also the instantof time at which the instrument is started in the rst instance. Forexample, if it is desired to play a given instrument on the quarterhours beginning at 11:00 oclock a. m., not only is the knob 36 turned tosuch position that the lever I9 will be actuated on the quarter hours,but also Va future start apparatus, not shown because points 'i4 byconductor l5 to the lefthand coil of the relay 5l, via the point lli',and thence by conductors 55 and 53 to the plug 45 and switch 46,conductor 5S, point 'il and thence back by conductor 13 to said switchpoints 74; and (2) from the switch points 'i5 by conductors 75 and tothe interval switch 42, thence by conductoil 3l to point 82 and then byconductor 83 to the magnet 84, then back to said switch points l5 byconductor 85, plug 45, switch 40, conductors 58 and '18.

The closing of circuit (l) traced above and the resultant energizationof the lefthand winding of the relay 5i eiiects the closure of theswitches 54, 55, as above explained, causing the cam 5l to rotatesuiiiciently to clear the switches 52, 5S and immediately thereafter theswitches 14, 'i5 are opened by the pneumatic 13. The armature 53remaining in its lefthand position and the switches 54, 55 remainingclosed, the cam will continue to rotate until it again closes theswitches 62, 68 whereupon, as above described, the circuit of the motor51 will be opened. The closure of circuit (2) above traced and theresultant energization of the magnet 34 effects the tilting of thecradle l5 and the mercury switch E4 carried thereby downwardly orcounterclockwise about its pivot l5 through the intermediary of thearmature 85 and the pin 8l' projecting laterally from the arm i8. Suchcounterclockwise tilting of said switch opens the circuit of the pianomotor 10. The switch I4 will remain in circuit-opening position untilthe cradle is again tilted in a clockwise direction by the arm i9. Atthe end of the next quarter hour, in the instance herein assumed, thecycle of operations above set forth is repeated.

In order to start an electrically-operated power player musicalinstrument, for example, an electrically-operated automaticrecord-shifting phonograph, the switch 88 is closed and thereupon thecircuit shifts and the series of operations above described are effectedwith the exception that the cam 5l is stopped at the position shown toclose the switches 55, and if such instrument is to be started atsuccessive definite timed intervals the switch 9i as well as the switch38, is closed, with the result above set forth in connection with thedescription or" the pneumatic instrument control operation. Upon thecompletion of the rendition of a record the switches 52, Q3 are brieflyclosed mechanically by a lug 54 afXed to a suitable portion 55 of theauto-matic record-shifting device, with the result above set forth inconnection with the switches 14, l5.

By means of the switch g5 any other type of power player musicalinstrument such as a pipe organ may be controlled continuously in themanner above described in connection the control of the piano by meansof the switch 4i alone, or by closing the switches Q1 and S5 may becontrolled at successive timed intervals, in the manner above describedin connection with the control of' the piano and the phonograph when theswitches 42 and Si are closed in conjunction with the switches 4l and88, respectively. At the conclusion of the rendition of a record by anorgan or other instrument controlled by the switch 5S, the switches 98,S9 effect the stopping of said instrument in the manner above set forthin connection with the switches 74, 'l5 and 9', 93 by a pneumatic |00,or other suitable device.

The circuit-changing switches are automatically opened immediately aftereach shift of the control of the horometer from one instrument toanother in order to clear the circuits and restore the same to normalcondition.

Pleasing eifects may be obtained by arranging matters so that at a givenhour a power player musical instrument of one type will start and thenstop at the conclusion of theI rendition of its rst record and aninstrument of another type will start at a definite timed interval afterthe starting of the instrument rst mentioned and at an appreciableinterval after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by thelatter, the rst instrument again playing at a definite interval afterthe starting of the second, and the cycle continuing. This mode ofoperation I term alternate. Specically, if the knob 35 is set on thequarter hour so that the blades 26, 28, 21 and 29 are placed at theheight to co-operate with the head 2| of the lever |9, the futurestarting device set at 1:00 oclock p. m. and the switches 4I, 42, 88 and9| closed, the piano will render a composition at 1:00 p. m. for, say,four minutes, there will then be an interval of silence for elevenminutes, the phonograph will then begin its rendition at 1:15 and willstop, say, at 1:18, there will then be a period o-f silence until 1:30,whereupon the piano will again start its next number and play until1:35, for example, there will be a period of silence until 1:45whereupon the phonograph will start its next rendition, and so on. Ifthree power player musical instruments such as a piano, a phonograph andan organ are employed, as indicated in Fig. 1, these instruments arestarted successively, each at a definite timed interval after thestarting of another and are stopped by the means above described, eachat the conclusion of the rendition of its record, there being anappreciable interval after the conclusion of the rendition of a recordby any instrument before the starting of the next.

Another novel and pleasing effect can be obtained by setting theapparatus to start two instruments successively, one immediately afterthe conclusion of the rendition of a record by the other, and then afteran interval of silence repeating the operation. For example, if thepiano switch 4|, the phonograph switch 88 and the interval switch 9| areclosed, the switch 42 remaining open, and the knob 35 set as before, forstarting an instrument on the quarter hour, the piano will be started atthe time indicated by the future starting device, say at 2:00 oclock p.m., and will play, say, three minutes, whereupon the phonograph willstart immediately after the conclusion of the rendition of the record bythe piano and will continue to play for say three minutes. There willthen be an interval of silence until 2:15 whereupon the paired operationwill be repeated, and so on. The most pleasing way to employ pairedcontrol is to have both instruments play the same composition, thesecond rendition of such composition being termed an echo.

This mode of control may be extended of course to include three or moreinstruments of diierent type such as the piano, the phonograph and theorgan, as indicated in Fig. 1, in which case switches 4|, 88, 96 and 91will be closed, if the sequence of play is to be piano, phonograph andorgan, although as will readily be understood any other sequence can beused.

This system of switches makes possible the playing of any instrument,either continuously or with intervals between each number, and alsomakes possible the setting up of the variety of program combinations atwill.

Inasmuch as the horometer is arranged tc operate on the hour or evendivisions thereof, it can be used to advantage in the timing of radioprograms.

It will be understood of course that in the shown in the drawing theworm wheel 24 one complete revolution .every hour.

Obviously the switches 4|, 43, 88, 9|, 95, 97 and 40, and the horometriccontrol apparatus may be suitably enclosed in a housing and located at apoint remote from the instruments and the rest of the system, or asindicated by the breaks mi, the entire system, suitably housed, may belocated at a distant point for the remote control or the instruments.

Having thus described an illustrative embodiment of my invention withoutlimiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

l. A program ,device for musical instruments comprising in combination aplurality of power player musical instruments of different type, ahorometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting saidcontroller to place one of said instruments under the control of saidhorometer means controlled by said horometer for starting saidinstruments successively to render records each at a denite timeinterval after the starting of another, instrument-actuated means forstopping said instruments, each at the conclusion of a record, and meansactuated simultaneously with the last mentioned means for setting saidstarting controller to place another of said instruments under thecontrol of said horometer.

2. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combinationtwo power player musical instruments of diierent type, a horometer, astarting controller, means for initially setting said controller toplace one of said instruments under the control of said horometer, meanscontrolled by said horometer for starting said instruments alternatelyto render records, each at a definite time interval after the startingof another, instrument-actuated means for stopping said instruments,each at the conclusion of a record, and means actuated simultaneouslywith the last mentioned means for setting said starting controller toplace another of said instruments under the control of said horometer.,

3. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination aplurality of power player musical instruments of different type, ahorometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting saidcontroller to place an instrument of one type under the control of saidhorometer, means controlled by said horometer for starting saidinstrument at successive denite time intervals to render records,instrumentactuated means for stopping said instrument at the conclusionof each record and for simultaneously resetting said starting controllerto effect the starting of an instrument of another type immediatelyafter the stopping of the instrument iirst mentioned.

4. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination aplurality of power player musical instruments of different type, ahorometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting saidcontroller to place one of said instruments under the control of saidhorometer, means controlled by said horometer for starting saidinstrument to render a record, instrumentactuated means for stoppingsaid instrument at the conclusion of the rendition of such record andfor simultaneously resetting said starting controller to eect thestarting of another of said instruments immediately after the stoppingof the instrument rst mentioned.

5. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination aplurality of power player musical instruments of different type, ahorometer, and means controlled by said liorometer for starting saidinstruments at predetermined times, said means comprising two oppositelydisposed electromagnets, an armature mounted for oscillation betweensaid electromagnets, an instrument-actuated limitV switch controllingthe circuit of one of said electromagnets, a plurality ofinstrument-selector switches, one for each of said instruments, anelectromagnetic device for actuating said instrument-selector switchessuccessively, and means actuated by said armature for controlling saidelectromagnetic device.

6. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination aplurality of power player musical instruments and means for startingsaid instruments successively to render records, each at a definite timeinterval after the starting of another, said means comprising aplurality of instrument-selector switches, one for each of said musicalinstruments, two oppositelydisposed electromagnets, an armature mountedfor actuation by said electromagnets, a normallyopen switch closed bysaid armature when actuated by one of said electromagnets, normallyopenswitches disposed for actuation simultaneously with saidinstrument-selector switches, respectively, a circuit connecting thewinding of the other of said electromagnets with said normally-openswitches and means for successively actuating said instrument-selectorswitches.

'7. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination apower player musical instrument, a horometer, a starting controller,

means for initially setting said controller to place said musicalinstrument under the control of said horometer, means controlled by saidhorometer for starting said instrument at successive denite timeintervals to render records, instrumentactuated means for stopping saidinstrument at the conclusion of the rendition of a record, and meansactuated simultaneously with the last mentioned means for setting saidstarting controller to place said instrument again under the control ofsaid horometer.

WILLARD J. BUTLER.

